Flashlight signal apparatus



G. K. V. JOHANSSON.v

FLASHLIGHT SIGNAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 28, 1919.

' Patented June 28, 1921.

A INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

GEORG KARL VILHELIiI JOHANSSON, 0F STOCKHOLM. SXVEDEN, ASSIGNOR TO AMERI- CAN GASACCUMULATOR COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

rnasnmen'r SIGNAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 1111 28, 1921,

Application filed March 28, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonc KARL VIL- H'ELM JOHANSSON, subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Stockholm, Sweden, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flashlight Signal Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention refers to improvements in flash light signal apparatus, and has for its object to control the gas supply to one or more burners. The invention consists of a supplementary diaphragm, which is actuated by the pressure in the supply pipe to the flash light apparatus, and which causes a controlling disk to rotate and thereby to establish or interrupt connection be tween the outlet of the flash apparatus and a burner conduit. The said controlling disk moreover may establish or interrupt connection between a supplementary gas supply and the flash apparatus in order to establish different flash characters in a manner previously known.

The accompanying drawing shows a construction according to the invention for controlling-the gas supply alternately to two burners.

Figure 1 shows the flash apparatus in a vertical section and the controlling device in horizontal section. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the controlling device.

2 indicates a casing, in which the controlling device is inclosed. In said casing a gas conduit 1 opens, leading from a pressure regulator, not shown on the drawlng. From the casing 2 extends a conduit 3, in which a throttling device, say a throttling screw 4, is inserted, and which opens in a valve seat 18 in the flash apparatus 5. From a valve seat 19, opposite to the valve seat 18, extends an outflow conduit 13, opening in the bottom of the casing 2 beneath a controlling disk 12, which is situated close to said bottom. Between the valve seats 18 and 19, which preferably are made of magnetic material, a valve tongue 20, connected with a diaphragm 21, is movable. The device described of the flash apparatus is prevlously well known.

The controlling disk 12 consists of a ratchet wheelor is connected with a ratchet wheel, in the teeth of which engage pawls 11, 11, connected by means of a bar 10 with a diaphragm 7, actuated by a spring 17.

Serial No. 285,868.

The chamber 8 on one side of said diaphragm communicates by means of a conduit 6 with the supply pipe 3 to the flash apparatus 5, whereas the chamber 9 on the other-side of the diaphragm by means of the passage 22 opens in the atmosphere.

In the bottom of the casing 2 open conduits 14, 15 beneath the controlling disk 12, each conduit being adapted to conduct gas to a burner (not shown). The under side of the controlling disk 12 is provided with a terior of the casing 2 and a conduit 16, open- 7 ing beneath the disk 12 and communicating with the supply pipe 3. A throttling device 26 is inserted in said conduit 16.

The device operates in the following manner: \Vhen the valve tongue 20 opens the valve seat 18 gas flows through the conduit 7 1 into the casing 2 and from said casing through the pipe 3 to the flash apparatus 5, after having passed the throttling device 4.. The pressure of the gas in the flash apparatus chamber causes the diaphragm 21 thereof to move upwardly with the result that the valve tongue finally tips and opens the valve seat 19. As soon as the valve seat 18 has been closed the gas flows from the casing 2 and the conduit 3, through the conduit 6 to the chamber 8 on the one side of the diaphragm 7 pushing the same forward and thereby turning the controlling disk 12, so that communication is established between the conduit 13 and eitherof the conduits 1-1, 15. The gas flowing out through the outflow conduit 13 from the flash appa; ratus during the period that the valve tongue 20 is in position upon the valve seat 18 to close the opening therein from the conduit 8 is conducted to one or the other of said conduits 14, 15.

When now the diaphragm 21, owing to the outflow of gas from the flash apparatus 5, moves downward, the valve tongue 20 again tips, so that the valve seat 18 is opened and the seat 19 is closed. The gas, inclosed in the chamber 8, conduit 6 and conduit 3 up to the throttling device 1, now flows without being held back by any throttling device, into the flash apparatus, whereby the d1aphragm 7 is pushed back by the spring 17 rotating the controlling disk 12 by means of the pawl 11, so that the communication between the conduit 13 and the conduit 1% or 15 is interrupted. Gas now flows from the casing 2 through the throttling device 4 and the conduit 3 to the flash apparatus, without actuating the diaphragm 7, whereby the diaphragm 21 is pushed to its utmost position, and causes the valve seat 18 to be closed by means of the valve tongue. After the valve seat 18 has been closed the gas pressure in the conduits 3 and 6 is able to move the diaphragm 7, so that communication is established between the conduit 13 and either of the conduits 1a, 15, whereaf ter the operation is repeated.

The passages 25 in the controlling disk 12 and the conduit 16 are provided for establishing an augmented supply of gas in certain intervals of time to the flash apparatus to thereby obtain a more rapid upward stroke of the diaphragm 21, and thus a shorter closing period of the valve seat 19.

The device shown and described compris' ing two burner conduits 14,15 is used when alternate, differently colored flash lights are desired. A plurality of burner conduits, leading to different burners, may also be used, whereby the gas supply to the diflerent burners alternately is controlled by means of the controlling disk 12. On the other hand one single burner conduit 14 or 15 may be used, the gas supply to said single burner being controlled by the disk 12..

Said modifications seem to be clear without special drawings.

Having now particularly described my invention and set forth the manner in which it is to be carried out what I claim is:

1. In combination with a flash light apparatus, a burner conduit, and means located intermediate the outlet of the flash light apparatus and the burner conduit for controlling communication between the said outlet and the said burner conduit, said means operated by the gas pressure in the supply conduit to the flash light apparatus.

2. In combination with a flash light apparatus, a chamber, a plurality of burner conduits opening into the bottom of said chamber, and means within said chamber for establishing communication alternately between an outlet of the flash light apparatus and the said burner conduits.

3. In combination with a flash light apparatus, a burner conduit, two supply conduits to the flash light apparatus, a movable disk, controlling communication between the outlet of the flash light apparatus and the burner conduit, and also controlling or" the flash light apparatus and the burner conduit, and for controlling communication between one of the supply conduits and the flash light apparatus.

5. In combinatlon with a flash light apparatus, a supply conduit to said flash light apparatus, a throttling device in said supply pipe, a diaphragm casing communicating with said supply pipe in a point between said throttling device and the flash light apparatus, and a movable disk, actuated by the diaphragm in said diaphragm casing, and controlling communication between the outlet ot the flash light apparatus and a burner conduit. 4

6. In combination with a flash light apparatus, a diaphragm casing, communicating with the gas supply to the flash light apparatus, a burner conduit, and a movable disk, actuated by the diaphragm in said diaphragm casing, and controlling the communication between the outlet of the flash light apparatus and the burner conduit. 7

7. In combination with a flash light apparatus, having an inlet valve and an outlet valve, controlled by a diaphragm, a supple mentary diaphragm, actuated by the gas in the supply pipe to the flash light apparatus, and a rotating disk, actuated by the supplementary diaphragm, and controlling communication between the outlet of the flash light apparatus and a burner conduit.

8. In combination with a flash light apparatus, a casing, a gas inlet opening in said casing, two gas supply conduits, leading from the casing to the flash light apparatus, a movable disk, inclosed in said casing, and provided with means for establishing communication between the outlet of the fl sh light apparatus and a burner conduit, and

for establishing communication between one of said supply conduits and the flash light apparatus, and a diaphragm, operated by the pressure in the supply conduits to the flash light apparatus.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a diaphragm casing provided with a gas receiving chamber, means for supplying gas to the said chamber, a flash light apparatus, a plurality of conduits leading from said chamber for supplying gas to the said apparatus, 7

a conduit for supplying gas to one or more burners, said conduit leading from the said apparatus and terminating in the said chamber, and movable means situated within the said chamber for controlling the flow of gas from the said burner supply conduit,

and the saidmeans also controlling the'flow of gas from the said chamber into and through one of the first named conduits.

10. In apparatus. of the character described, the combination of a diaphragm casing provided with a gas receiving chamber and a diaphragm chamber, means for supplying gas to the said gas. receiving chamber, a flash light apparatus, a plurality of conduits leadingfrom the said gas receiving chamber for supplying gas to the said flashlight apparatus, a conduit leading from the said flash light apparatus to the said gas receiving chamber, a movable member situated within the said chamber for controlling the flow of gas through said burner conduit, means for admitting gas to the said diaphragm chamber for actuating the diaphragm therein, and means actuated by the said diaphragm for-causing move ment of said movable member.

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a diaphragm casing provided with gas receiving and diaphragm chambers, means for supplying gas to the said gas receiving chamber,.a flash light apparatus, a conduit leading from said gas receiving chamber to the said flash light apparatus for supplying gas thereto, a conduit leading from the said flash light apparatus to the said gas receiving chamber, burner conduits leading from the said gas receiving chamber, a movable control member having means for alternately connecting the said conduit from the flash light apparatus with the said burner conduits, means for supplying gas from the first named conduit to the said diaphragm chamber to effect movement of the diaphragm therein, and means connected with the latter for effecting movement of the said control member.

12. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a casing provided with a gas receiving chamber, a flash light apparatus, a conduit leading from the said chamber to the said apparatus, a conduit leading from the said apparatus to the said chamber, aburner conduit leading from the said chamber to a burner, a movable controlling member for controlling passage of gas from the conduit from the said flash light apparatus to the said burner conduit, and means for effecting movement automatically of the said controlling member.

13. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a casing provided with a gas receiving chamber, means for supplying gas to the said chamber, a flash light apparatus, a conduit leading from the said chamber to the Said flash light apparatus, a conduit leading from the said flash light apparatus and terminating in the said chamber, a plurality of burner conduits leading from the said chamber, the terminal end of the conduit leading from the said flashlight apparatus being situated in proximity to the inner ends of the burner conduits, a movable member situated in the said chamber and closing. the, open endsof the conduit from the said flash light apparatus and the said burner conduits, said member being provided with independent passageways angularly related with respect to each other andiadapted to connect the end of the conduit from the flash light apparatus alternately with the ends of the saidburner conduits, andmeans for causing movement of the said member to effect such alternate connection.

14. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a diaphragm casing provided with gas receiving and diaphragm chambers, means for supplying gas to said gas receiving chamber, a flash light apparatus, a plurality of'gas receiving conduits fforsupplying gas to said flash light apparatus, a conduit leading from the said flashlight apparatus and terminating in the said i gas receiving chamber, a plurality of burner conduits leading fromsaid gas re ceiving chamber, a controlling member rotatably mounted in the said chamber, said member being provided with means for establishing communication of the end of the conduit leading from the said flash light apparatus alternately with the said burner conduits, means for supplying gas from the said gas receiving chamber to the said diaphragm chamber for effecting movement in one direction of the diaphragm therein, a device having connection with the said diaphragm and actuated at intervals in one direction thereby for causing movement of the said controlling member, and means act ing alternately at intervals for causing movement of the said device in the opposite direction to effect additional movement of the said controlling member.

15. In apparatus of the character clescribed, the combination of a diaphragm caslng comprising gas receiving and diaphragm chambers, means for supplying gas to said gas receiving chamber, a flash light apparatus, a plurality of burner conduits leading from the said gas receiving chamber, a conduit leading from the said flash light apparatus and terminating in the said gas receiving chamber for supplying gas to the said burner conduits, a movable controlling member situated in the said gas receiving chamber, said member being provided with means for placing the end of the conduit leading from the said flash light apparatus into communication alternately with the said burner conduits, and the said controlling member being also provided with means for alternately opening and closing one of the said conduits leading from the said gas receiving chamber to the said flash light apparatus, and means for causing movement of the said controlling member to effect the alternate openingand closing of the last mentioned conduit and also to eifect communication of the conduit from the said flash light apparatus alternately -with the said burnerconduits. V

16. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a diaphragm casing provided with gas receiving and diaphragm chambers, means for supplying gas to said gas receiving chamber, a flash light apparatus, conduits leading from the said gas receiving chamber and being in com- 'munication with the said flash light apparatus, burner conduits leading from the said gas receiving chamber, a conduit leading from said flash light apparatus and terminating in the said gas receiving chamber adjacent the ends of the burner conduits, a controlling disk rotatably mounted in the said gas receiving chamber, said disk having relatively short passageways upon itsunderneath side, angularly related with respect to each other, and also being provided at intervals with passages extending there through and also being provided with ratchet teeth upon its periphery, means for supplying gas from said gas'receiving chamber to the said diaphragm chamber to effect movement-o'fthe diaphragm therein, a rod extending through the said gas receiving chamber and having connection with the said diaphragm,,said .rod partaking of the movements. of the said diaphragm,, andv means carried by the saidrod for engaging the said ratchet teeth to effect rotary Inovement of the said disk to thereby cause movement of the passageways in the bottom of said disk to effect communication of the conduit leading from the flash light apparatus alternately with thesaid burner conduits Witnesses WALDEMAR BOMAN, A. BronoK.

(more KARL VILHELM onAnsson 

